besides him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "besides him" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is commonly used to refer to someone or something in addition to the main person or thing being discussed. Example: "We were all excited about the new project, besides him, who seemed uninterested."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

"God will not forgive those who serve other gods besides Him; but He will forgive whom He will for other sins.

Huffington Post

A man stops besides him.

Independent

But besides him and Mr Lenarcic, talent is thin.

The Economist

Does anyone benefit from his vast wealth besides him?

The Guardian - Business

He's meant to run faster than the fella besides him".

The Guardian - Sport

"The funny thing is his bike laying besides him," the original poster of the image wrote.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

It was finished early in 1837 and soon won both serious acclaim and popular success, besides bringing him many invitations to lecture, thus solving his financial difficulties.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Then came the Black Paintings, which, besides rocketing him to fame, promulgated a new idea of what art can do and, more to the point, what it can do without.

The New Yorker

In his 20's, Bobby Frankel discovered early mornings on the backside as a hot walker, which, besides offering him free parking and admission at the track in the afternoons, is the first step on the long road to becoming a trainer.

The New York Times - Sports

After all, if the Republicans had developed any strategies for opposing Mr. Torricelli besides attacking him for the lengthy federal investigation into his fund-raising activities, Mr. Treffinger might have been able to puff out his chest, stand on his rights, attack federal witch-hunters and run as an underdog.

The New York Times

What Draper's plan would really do, besides make him famous, is create winners and losers, rich states and poor states.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "besides him" to clearly indicate that you are adding another person to the subject, ensuring clarity and avoiding ambiguity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "beside him" when you mean "besides him". "Beside" means next to, while "besides" means in addition to.

Linguistic Context

Besides him functions primarily as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun by adding information about inclusion or exclusion. Ludwig examples show it being used to add someone or something to a group already mentioned.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

18%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Huffington Post

8%

Vice

3%

The New Yorker

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "besides him" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase commonly used to indicate inclusion or addition. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions to add another person or entity to a previously mentioned subject. This phrase enjoys fairly common usage, particularly in news and media, wiki entries, and encyclopedias, suggesting a neutral register. To avoid confusion, remember that "besides" indicates 'in addition to', not 'next to'. Alternatives include "in addition to him" or "apart from him".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in addition to him

Directly states an additive relationship.

as well as him

Emphasizes inclusion alongside 'him'.

apart from him

This alternative focuses on exclusion rather than inclusion of others.

aside from him

Similar to 'apart from him', indicating separation.

with the exception of him

Formal way of singling him out from a group.

other than him

Similar to 'apart from him', it emphasizes distinction.

excluding him

Focuses on the act of leaving him out.

not counting him

Highlights his non-participation in a count.

besides himself

Reflexive form, indicating comparison to his own state.

on top of him

Suggests an additional layer, either physically or figuratively.

FAQs

How can I use "besides him" in a sentence?

You can use "besides him" to indicate that something applies to others in addition to him. For example, "Everyone enjoyed the party, besides him, who seemed bored".

What's the difference between "besides him" and "except for him"?

"Besides him" adds to the group, while "except for him" excludes him from the group. Depending on what you intend to express, make sure you select the right wording.

What can I say instead of "besides him"?

You can use alternatives like "in addition to him", "apart from him", or "other than him" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "besides he" grammatically correct?

No, "besides he" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "besides him", using the objective pronoun.